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- Jun 16, 2003
Originally Posted by dankenstien88
scshift wrote:
MyJaysGetRocked wrote:
After a while that, will turn into. Alcantara and Suede quickly fade and look like crap after a good amount of use.
BTW, this is a proper "race car" interior...
I thought Alcantara was much more durable than leather and suede? From what I've read from owners, their leather interiors crack and crease while those with the Alcantara can just brush over the material and it looks great again.
I don't like the Ferrari interiors at all. I know those are proper race car interiors, but that's OD to me for anything less than a track car. Porsche, Lamborghini and the McLaren MP4-12C all have excellent interiors to me, they're not luxurious or hollowed out like the Ferrari but they're sleek and refined while looking high quality.
Manufacturers like to boast that alcantara is more "durable" than leather or suede but the number one reason for its use in in the cockpit is the fact it is completley flame ******ant. Race cars have been using it for decades to keep drivers a little safer in the event of a collision. Its also a bit lighter than comparable natrual materials.
The "durability" of alcantara is really a matter of opinion.
IMO its like clear soles on kicks... Great looking when brand new and extremely physically durable, but still ages extremely fast visually.
Oddly enough, top of the line makes like Porsche and Lamborghini have actually been known produce some of the worst alcantara interiors. Many people complain of having bald and discolored steering wheels and shift knobs in as little as 15k miles
Only speaking from what I've seen but I've seen a 996 GT3 with his alcantara steering wheel in great shape (70k), compared to a guy in an e46 M3 who said he had his steering wheel replaced under warranty because of wear. As far as STi's and their durable alcantara, I think they started their alcantara in 08 with the GR and even then it's only on the seats. Most of the wear would be focused on the steering wheel and shifter as you said.